GOSH patients mark World Poetry Day

‘The child first and always’ remains at the heart of everything we do. Part of that promise is ensuring we support GOSH in making every child’s hospital experience the best it can be, by creating a more relaxed, less clinical environment, and reduce stress and anxiety for children and young people.

For example, as part of the GOSH Arts programme, site-specific projects have been created to inspire the imagination of the children and their families. You may have seen the 20-metre-long Seascape feature wall in the hospital’s main reception, which is made up of more than 100 fish painted by the children at GOSH, or the Prayer Tree in The Chapel. Children, families and staff of all faiths can leave their prayers by tying labels that act as leaves to the tree branches.

Our latest project has been working closely with GOSH’s fantastic Play team, asking the children to write a poem for World Poetry Day on Sunday 21 March. This has been a fun task for the children and something they’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Each poet has chosen their own subject and each poem is both impressive and thought-provoking. Thank you very much to Ava, Kayla, Hannah, Sumandeep, Aura and Shannon for sharing your beautiful work with us, and to the GOSH patients who drew some of the pictures you see throughout the booklet.

For a sneak preview, here's Kayla's wonderful poem about rainbows and all things joyful.

We hope you enjoy reading these wonderful creations as much as we have!